THE ORIGINAL NOVEL WAS WRITTEN IN SPANISH, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TRANSLATION. IF YOU WANT TO READ IT IN SPANISH LOOK FOR IT UNDER THE SAME PSEUDONYM AND BY NAME "EL SECRETO"
In case you're wondering if Christian is in the novel, is there, just won´t expected.
Yes.
Today was a completely different day. When I got to the elevator, unlike other times, there was no one there.
How strange!
I pressed the call button and while I was waiting more people started coming.
—Good morning. —god, that voice so early!
Why did he have to torture me like this at this hour.
His voice had sounded strangely close to me. I turned my face and Mr. Chasting was standing next to me with his face a few inches from mine. I swallowed dry as I stared at his lips so close to mine that I was tempted to kiss them. Today as yesterday he had a slight beard that made my mouth dry and my legs tremble wanting to feel it sliding down my body. I got a little separated from him.
—Good morning, Mr. Chasting. —I answered him gently by putting a little distance between us.
The elevator doors opened and I quickly walked into the back of the elevator and settled into one of the corners of the elevator while Mr. Chasting followed me closely and stood next to me. I felt like I was being cornered. The elevator was completely full of people so he had to stick to me a little bit. As the doors closed, he began his ascent. I felt like I was going up slower than usual.
I didn't really like elevators full of people, it made me nervous. And Mr. Chasting's presence beside me didn't make things much better. I felt the electricity surrounding us, attracting us. I could feel his gaze staring at me.
The elevator stopped on the tenth floor and several people came down. But Mr. Chasting didn't aparting an inch of me. I looked at him briefly and he surprised me by looking at him. I focused my eyes on the changing floor panel as the elevator climbed slowly and separated myself a little from Mr. Chasting. He didn't stick to me again, but I could feel his look in me. The elevator stopped several more times until on the 20th floor everyone got off and only Mr. Chasting and I were left.
As soon as the doors closed, my heart began to beat unchecked in my chest. If a full elevator made me nervous, I was even more nervous when I was alone with him here.
I could feel his presence much stronger than before. His smell now invaded the elevator and clouded my senses. I turned to see him and he was lying on the opposite wall with his head tilted up and his eyes closed. Now that I was looking at him well, he looked very different. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt with a blazer, no tie. In his hand, he was wearing aviator glasses that I never seen before. His hair looked messy as if he had run his hand through it in frustration. He looked different and demonically sexy, much more than usual. The elevator stopped at our floor and Mr. Chasting left before me walking quickly to the office.
—What's wrong with him? —Kate asked me at the reception desk as I walked past her.
—I don't know. —I replied with a shrug. — If I know anything, I'll tell you later. — I told her as I walked to my office.
But then I remembered Mr. Chasting's coffee and I changed direction. As soon as it was ready, I got back to the office. I knocked on his door and walked in without waiting for him to tell me.
Just like every day he found himself looking into the distance through the panoramic windows.
Would he miss London?
—Your coffee, Mr. Chasting. —I told him as I put it on his desk. With your permission. —I said as I was leaving his office.
—Wait a minute. —he said as I stopped short and turned slowly towards him.
Mr. Chasting walked over to his desk while I stood there frozen looking at him.
—I need the files on all personnel working in nanotechnology as soon as possible. —he said as he looked for something on his desk.
What a strange request.
Would he be going to lay off staff?
—Right away, Mr. Chasting. Anything else? —I asked him as he looked up from his desk.
—Yeah, thanks for the coffee. —he said as he smiled at me before taking a sip from the cup already in his hand.
—You're welcome, with your permission. —I said as I turned around and left his office.
Even my legs were shaking when I sat at my desk. His smile had completely disarmed me. It was warm and kind and made me feel hundreds of butterflies. I still didn't understand why he had that power over me. I closed my eyes for a moment.
Forget...forget...forget...forget...
I opened my eyes and turned on the computer. I picked up the phone and called human resources to get the files on all the nanotech staff as soon as possible. After I hung up the phone, the phone rang and when I looked at the ID I saw it was Kate. I picked up the phone but she wouldn't let me talk.
—There's a guy with a package for you. —she said very excited.
—A package?
—Yeah, stop playing dumb and come and get it. —she said as she hung up the phone on me.
I got up from my chair and walked to the reception. Next to Kate's desk was a boy with a box in his hand.
—Anastasia Steele? —he asked me as soon as I arrived in front of him.
—Yes.
—Sign here. — he told me by laying out a piece of paper that I signed quickly.
—Thank you. —he said turning around and walking towards the elevator.
The box was bigger than the last one. And it had a note folded and glued to it. I knew exactly who sent me this. I took it off carefully and unfolded it to read it:
Sorry for my audacity…I couldn't resist...I hope you like it.
C.T.G
—What does it say? —Kate asked behind me anxious.
I held out the card for her to read while I opened the box. Inside was a red cloth that felt very soft to the touch. I took the cloth out of the box and was surprised to see that it was a dress. A beautiful red dress open in front of half of the thighs. He was bold and sexy. The straps passed over the shoulders and crossed over the back leaving it completely exposed with a very pronounced neckline.
—Is that a dress? —Kate asked as she took it out of my hand to see it.
—I'd better keep it and get back to my desk. —I said while I was picking up the box to keep the dress.
But then something caught my atention. Inside the box, at the bottom, there was another card stuck.
This is my private number and my e-mail address. Call me when you get this, I'd like to meet us in person.
C.T.G
—What's the matter with you? You froze to death staring at the box. —Kate said to me as I took out the other card and put the dress away.
—He gave me his phone number to call him, he wants to meet us in person.
—What if he's a pervert or a stalker?
—I doubt it is, but don't worry, I'll ask Sawyer to come with me.
— I see you've got it all figured out.
—See you later. —I told her as I kept both cards inside the box, closed it and headed for my office.
I took out the card with his phone number, put it on my desk and put the box in a drawer.
I stared at the card like it was burning. I was very curious to know who had taken the trouble to send me the rose and such a beautiful dress. I was curious to know who had noticed me.
I took the card with shaky fingers and took out my cell phone. I couldn't make this call from the office. I dialed his number and it started ringing. One doorbell, two, three. Why he wouldn't answer if he asked me to call him. On the fifth ring he answered.
—Yes. —Shit, I didn't expect her voice to sound so hot on the phone. —Hello. — Ana, say something.
—Excuse me, this is Anastasia Steele. —I said nervously as I felt my hand shaking with the phone in my hand.
—Oh! I was waiting anxious for your call. Did you like what I sent you? —God! , he had a delicious and strange accent, a mixture of Chicago with a British accent, though maybe it was my idea.
—It's beautiful, but I can't accept it.
—Why not?
—Because as good as your intentions may seem, I don't know you.
—That's what I want, to know you, to know each other.
I had to dig why he knew so much about myself.
—How do you know my name and where I work?
—It wasn't difficult, I have many friends.
—Are you a stalker psychopath? — I told him while he was laughing on the other side of the line.
—I can guarantee you I'm not. —he said while he was still laughing and his laughter was contagious and I started laughing too.
I wasn't quite sure what I was doing yet, but there was only one way to go on with it.
—When can we meet in person? —I asked him, filling me with courage.
I hadn't dated anyone after José. I think it was time to rebuild my life again.
—At the moment it will not be possible for me, I am going on a business trip, perhaps when I return in a week.
—At least I can know your name, I think you have the advantage. —I told him as I felt him laugh one more time.
His laughter felt like a young man's.
—You're right. My name is Christian.
Christian. I seem to remember very vaguely someone by that name.
—Nice to meet you. —in the background, it sounded like he was at the airport.
—Excuse me, I have to go, I have to catch a plane to France. Are you calling from your cell phone?
—Yes.
—Okay, I'll call you when I land and we'll continue talking or you can e-mail me.
—All right. —and hung up while I was staring at the phone.
I kept his number in my contacts and dropped the phone with shaking hands.
That's when someone knocked on my door.
—Go ahead. —I said as a slim, brunette girl walked into my office.
—Here are all the updated files on nanotechnology personnel. —she said as she handed me a flash drive.
—Thank you. —I told the girl as she quickly left my office.
I got up and knocked on Mr. Chasting's door.
—Here are the files you asked for, Mr. Chasting. —I told him as I left the memory on his desk with my hands still shaking from my first conversation with Christian and turned around to retire.
— Is something wrong? —he asked me as I turned briefly.
—No. Why do you ask?
— Because you're blushing. —fuck, that phone call.
—It's nothing, if you'll excuse me. —I said as I rushed out of his office.
Talking to my secret admirer had affected me. Well, it wasn't so secret anymore, it had a name now.
Christian.
I had to find out more about him, how he was, how old he was, his tastes. Everything. I took the card from the table and opened the mail. Save his address with his name and send him an e-mail.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Christian
Date: Thursday, 22/10/2015 8:34 AM
Subject: Flight.
I hope you get to France all right.
Ana.
And I sent it. Just as soon as I did, I realized that I had put Ana at the end. Only my friends called me that way. And even though I knew his name, he was still a stranger. I decided to forget about the mail and concentrate on work.
At noon I went to lunch with Kate and updated her on the phone call and e-mail I had sent him.
—Then he's got a name.
—Yeah, his name is Christian. — I told her on the way back to the office.
—Keep me updated. —she said to me while he was staying at reception and I was on my way to make Mr. Chasting's coffee.
A few minutes later I was knocking on his door.
—Yes. —he said as I walked in.
I walked over to his desk and put the cup on his desk. Today, unlike other times, he was sitting there. I was getting ready to leave when he spoke.
—I need you to stay late today, I have...
—I know, you have a meeting with the manager of the Hyatt. —I said, interrupting him.
—Yes... —he said as he lay down on his chair. —I see why Grace was so fond of you, you're always one step ahead, I like that.
—Thank you Mr. Chasting, don't worry, I'll have everything arranged for your meeting.
—If you can arrange it here in my office, I don't think we need to use the meeting room.
—All right. —I said as I was leaving there quickly.
Every time I walked into his office, my nerves would get a little bit more intense. I had not yet grown accustomed to his imposing and intimidating presence. And in my mind there were dozens of positions where he could fuck me in his office. These started against the panoramic windows and ended against the door that connected both offices.
Breathe…
Forget …
Clear your mind...
I repeated myself before I opened the mail and sent a message to Kate.
From: Anastasia Steele
To: Kate Kavanagh
Date: Thursday, 10/22/2015 1:15 PM
Subject: Meeting.
I'll be late today, Mr. Chasting has a meeting.
Ana.
She replied almost at once.
From: Kate Kavanagh
To: Anastasia Steele
Date: Thursday, 10/22/2015 1:17 PM
Subject: Meeting.
Enjoy the company.
Kate.
Yes, of course.
The afternoon passed quickly without even realizing it. And around five o'clock an incoming mail alert made me pay attention to the computer.
I had a message from Christian.
From: Christian
To: Anastasia Steele
Date: Thursday, 22/10/2015 12:22 AM, CET
Subject: My flight.
Thanks for your concern, Ana. I got here all right. I'm already at the hotel.
Christian.
He had answered my mail. My heart was racing at the time and I couldn't understand why I was so excited that a stranger had answered my e-mail. I was going to answer him but at that moment Mr. Chasting called me at his office and I couldn't do it, I would do it later at home.